Passport Needed???

[jslovescats]

I was told by my booking agent that passports were not needed yet for a US citizen for sea travel. They said a birth certificate and drivers license was fine. Is this correct?

[billroddy]

Holland America Line recommends that all guests travel with a valid passport during their cruise. This will enable guests to fly from the U.S. to meet their ship at the first port should they miss their scheduled embarkation and allow guests that must disembark the ship before their cruise ends due to an emergency to fly back to the U.S without significant delays and complications.
In 2008, the final phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will go into effect. The actual date of implementation has not been set; as of the date of this writing it is anticipated to occur in the summer of 2008. Once implemented, all persons, including citizens of the United States, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda will be required to have and carry a valid passport to enter or re-enter the United States by air, land or sea.
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Bill

[bruceh4]

Holland America Line recommends that all guests travel with a valid passport during their cruise. This will enable guests to fly from the U.S. to meet their ship at the first port should they miss their scheduled embarkation and allow guests that must disembark the ship before their cruise ends due to an emergency to fly back to the U.S without significant delays and complications.
In 2008, the final phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will go into effect. The actual date of implementation has not been set; as of the date of this writing it is anticipated to occur in the summer of 2008. Once implemented, all persons, including citizens of the United States, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda will be required to have and carry a valid passport to enter or re-enter the United States by air, land or sea.
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BillThe information provided by billroddy is correct, if you want further information about this go to the following US State Dept website.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

[anchorage1977]

Regardless of your feelings about passports, the money of a passport, the politics of passports or even the current laws about passports...

GO GET THE DANG PASSPORT... ALL Y'ALL!

Whether it's required yet or not, it will be eventually/soon and the headaches messing with this at the last minute are not worth the hundred bucks. Its good for 10 years... that's about $10 a year, less than a buck a month etc. Please, I implore you... just go get it now.

D'accord?

Happy Travels.

[jhannah]

I agree. Get a passport ... even though you may not "need" one for your upcoming cruise. It's an ounce of prevention, so to speak, as you never know what might happen.

[jslovescats]

Thanks everyone! Good advise!

[jtl513]

Please, I implore you... just go get it now.Besides, who knows when you might get the opportunity to take a trip on short-notice where you DO need it? :)

[O2B@C]

Another vote here for getting a passport whether you "need" it or not! In 2004 when my DH had to back out of a cruise at the last minute, I asked a friend to come along in his place - and she had the vacation time, but no passport, so she couldn't! So another lucky friend got to come instead. Lesson: Even if you have no immediate travel plans, it can't hurt to have it - and it CAN be a huge plus!

[Bengoshi]

Once you have the passport, scan it into your computer, then email it to yourself. That way you will be able to access at least a copy if you and your passport become separated, and you have email access.